Yamaguchi Memorial Seminar Archive

The 2017 Ikuo Yamaguchi Memorial Seminar

"Authoring a Life: Narrative Identity, Redemption, and Donald J. Trump" was presented by Dan P. McAdams, Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Psychology and Professor of Human Development and Social Policy and Director of The Foley Center for the Study of Lives at Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy

The aging of America is well documented and unprecedented. It is estimated that persons aged 65 and older will represent nearly 20% of the US population by 2030 and this transition will impact all areas of our society. The experience of aging is diverse and many Americans now live longer, healthy, and fulfilling lives. However, there remains a significant percentage of older adults whose mental health needs are undetected and untreated. Depression, dementia, anxiety, and substance abuse are growing problems among older adults that result in unnecessary institutional care and reduced quality of life.

This lecture provided an overview of the needs and concerns of older adults and their families and examined opportunities for the field of social work in training professionals in aging. Improving clinical work with older adults, as well as better integrating mental health screening with primary care and other professional services, will help reduce stigma, underutilization of available services, and save costs, as well as lives. We discussed the intersection between practice, research, and policy.

About the Presenter:Robyn L. Golden, LCSW, serves as the Director of Health and Aging at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago where she also holds academic appointments in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Health Systems Management. She is responsible for developing and overseeing health promotion and disease prevention, mental health, care coordination, and transitional care services for older adults, family caregivers, and people with chronic conditions.

For over 25 years, Ms. Golden has been actively involved in service provision, program development, education, research and public policy aimed at developing innovative initiatives and systems integration to improve the health and well-being of older adults and their families. In 2003-04, she was the John Heinz Senate Fellow based in the office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington, D.C. Ms. Golden is also a past chair of American Society on Aging and currently co-chairs the National Coalition on Care Coordination housed at the New York Academy of Medicine. She also is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Ms. Golden holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a bachelor’s degree from Miami University.

In 2009, Ms. Golden received the Edith Abbott Award, which recognizes an SSA graduate for distinguished service to society and for outstanding professional contributions at the local, national, or international levels.

The Ikuo Yamaguchi Memorial Fund is pleased to provide funding for this program.